A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the City Of Clinton Finance Department on October 31, 2024. The request was made by us at Macon Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
In our pursuit of transparency and accountability, we requested specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We sought information in an electronic format about businesses that paid sales tax to the city from January 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024. The details requested included the business name, business type, and the amount of sales tax paid by each entity.
In addition to this, we also asked for data on the total amount of sales tax that the city collected within the same timeframe. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.
We believe these records will aid us in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to our readers. Given our role in disseminating information, we have also requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
